Napkin



g- 13, 1940- P. J. CHRIISTMAN 2,211,494

\ Filed Nov. 20, 1939 I WVWF Patented Aug. 13, 1940 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NAP'KIN- Peter J. Christman, Green Bay, Wis.

Application November 20, 1939, Serial No. 305,37 5

2 Claims. (01. 20 -57) Thisinvention relates to a napkin, and more particularly to a type of paper napkin which is adapted to be used in a dispensing container or cabinet.

It has heretofore been the practice to fold napkins mainly along longitudinal and horizontal lines so that the resultant folded napkin has a substantially regular shape. The uniform lines, however, make it extremely diificult for the napkin to be grasped. and withdrawn without tearing it, and to facilitate such withdrawal the napkins have been equipped with turned-up short ends or corners forming dispensing tabs. Such tabs, however, are not satisfactory in that they form an undesirable fold at an extreme end of the napkin, rendering its final appearance when unfolded unattractive, and again because in the withdrawal operation the tension is exerted against one extreme end portion of the napkin.

An object of the present invention is to provide a napkin which is folded in such a way as to provide a natural dispensing tab or area which can be grasped readily with the entire four fingers and thumb, the tension being thus distributed over a wide area of the napkin and against the entire thickness of the longitudinally folded napkin. A further object is to provide a napkin formed with a minimum of folding operations and wherein the end portions of the napkin are arranged in diverging lines so that substantially one-half of the folded napkin'provides a dispensing tab. A further object is to provide a folded napkin produced by a minimum of folding operations and in which a substantial portion of the napkin itself is placed in a diverging position with respect to the other portion so that it enables the napkin to be grasped along a median line, thus facilitating the ready removal thereof from the cabinet. A further object is to provide a folded napkin with the main portions thereof separated by diverging relationship whereby the unfolding can be accomplished readily and without danger of tearing the folds. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective or developed view of the napkin partially folded; Fig. 2, a perspective View of the napkin with the longitudinal folding thereof almost complete; Fig. 3, a plan view of a napkin which has been longitudinally folded and then obliquely folded to cause the major portions of the napkin to assume diverging positions; and Fig. l, a perspective View of a stack of napkins folded in accordance with myinvention. In the illustration given, the napkin A is folded in a zigzag manner along the longitudinal lines Ill, II and I2. The folds may be of zigzag or fanfold type, or of any other suitable longitudinal type of fold.

The narrow packet or strip thus formed is then folded along an oblique line I3, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, to cause the end portions M and I5 of the napkin to occupy diverging lines or positions.

The folded napkins are placed in stacks, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and the stacks'are placed in suitable triangularly shaped containers or dispensing cabinets (not shown), as in the usual practice, one end of the cabinet being open to provide access to the napkins.

While in the particular illustration given, the napkin is shown folded transversely along an oblique median line, it will be understood that the folding may be at other intermediate points than the middle, it being sufficient that there are substantially diverging end portions resulting from the folding.

In operation, the user inserts the fingers of one hand below the upper flap I4 and grasps the flap between the fingers and thumb. It will be noted that the fingers may extend inwardly practically to the median fold I3. The napkin, which is thus grasped almost at the middle, is readily withdrawn without placing any substantial strain upon the napkin itself. The napkin may be withdrawn by pulling forwardly the portion I4 and, if desired, the portion adjacent the fold I3 may be pressed forwardly to draw out the underportion I5. With the stacking arrangement, it will be noted that there is less frictional strain placed upon the individual napkins because the aligned end portions I4 on one side are partially spaced apart by the diagonal extending portions I5. Thus, one napkin can be Withdrawn fairly readily without placing undue stress upon the napkin therebelow.

It will be noted that in the removal of the napkin by this means, the napkin itself is practically unfolded, except for the longitudinal folds, when it is withdrawn. It is practically impossible for the user to grasp more than one napkin at a time because the wide separation of the diverging end portions I4 and I5 practically force the operator to grasp the upper end portion I4 while the diverging portion I5 prevents the fingers from engaging napkins therebelow.

The napkin is a definite advance in the matter of simplicity, providing a, minimum of folds, and dispensing with the fold heretofore found necessary to provide a dispensing tab. In addition, the napkin provides a dispensing flap which is far greater than the ordinary tab heretofore used and enabling the entire hand to grasp the napkin flap. The withdrawal of the napkin results in the unfolding of the napkin as far as transverse folds are concerned. In the withdrawal operation, the strain of the tensional effort is carried by the entire longitudinal folded napkin and at a point near an intermediate or middle portion.

While in the foregoing description, I have set forth certain specific details, it will be understood that such details can be and will be widely varied by those skilled in this art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur ot a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A napkin packet for use in a dispensing cabinet, comprising a stack of individual napkin units stacked upon each other in aligned relation, each unit comprising a napkin folded longitudinally along zigzag lines to form a relatively narrow folded strip of uniform dimensions and then folded obliquely transversely adjacent the midportion thereof to bring the end portions thereof into substantially diverging relation, the aligned end portions of the napkins being separated partially by diagonally extending portions of the other aligned napkin end portions.

2. A napkin packet for use in a dispensing cabinet, comprising a stack of individual napkin units stacked upon each other in aligned relation, each unit comprising a napkin folded longitudinally along zigzag lines to form a folded strip of substantially uniform dimensions and then folded obliquely transversely at an intermediate portion thereof to bring the end portions thereof into substantially diverging relation, the aligned end portions of the napkins being separated partially by diagonally extending portions of the other aligned napkin end portions.

PETER J. CHRISTMAN. 

